58 THE CHAMPION OF STUPIDITY. 



avenue of escape which is the hardest for the ostrich to reach, leads the bird to 

 think there is some trap or snare at the other opening into which the sportsmen are 

 trying to drive him. He therefore runs the opposite way, even though it is certain 

 to bring him in collision with the very enemy he seeks to escape. 



Thus Jack, Bob and Dick were galloping toward the same outlet of the valley 

 which the ostriches were seeking to gain, with the distance nearly twice as great 

 for the game as for the hunters. The routes must of necessity converge, but the 

 birds were sure to keep straight on, though they saw the foes rapidly nearing them, 

 and when, too, they had only to turn about and take the opposite direction to insure 

 their safety. 



"There they come!" called out Bob, hurrying his horse through fear that the 

 great speed of the birds would carry them to the outlet before he could reach it 



"The ostrich is the biggest fool that goes on legs," remarked the disgusted Jack, 

 " but, all the same, don't you forget that when you get him into a corner, he will 

 fight like fury." 



" I suppose these are too big to capture," observed Bob, " so we can only try to 

 bring down two or three." 



" I've a notion to try an experiment," said the Texan. 



"What's that?" 



"Fling a lasso over the head of one, yank him 'round, and see whether I can't 

 persuade him to sheer off on another route." 



" I don't believe you can do it, and it will be a good deal like lassoing a loco- 

 motive." 



" I ain't afraid on that account," replied Jack, with a confidence which promised 

 ill for his enterprise, since he had never hunted ostriches, though, like his young 

 comrades, he had informed himself as thoroughly as he could concerning their 

 habits. 



Pongo was an old hunter of the birds, and had told them so much that the three 

 felt something of regret because they had not persuaded him to join them in what 

 promised to be a most exciting experience. 



